Environmental survey of a military base
In 2007 OPV carried out a comprehensive environmental survey of the rock environment and groundwater at the Gazala Line military base in Kosovo as part of the NATO KFOR peacekeeping mission. The aim of the project was to verify whether the operation of the base had caused environmental pollution and, if so, to determine the extent and severity of the contamination.
The survey focused primarily on possible leaks of petroleum substances, fuels, and other hazardous substancesthat could have arisen in connection with the long-term operation of military equipment, fuel storage, and the base's logistical facilities.
Solution
The survey methodology combined archival analysis and detailed field work:
- evaluation of historical data on the location of buildings, equipment, and storage areas,
- comprehensive sampling of the rock environment in a regular sampling grid outside existing buildings,
- gasometric measurements of volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations in soil air,
- increased sampling density in areas of proven contamination to quantify the volume of contaminated soil,
- assessment of risks to groundwater.
Result
Based on the survey, the extent of the contaminated zones was precisely defined and a technical basis for the design of subsequent environmental measures was created. The project outputs served as support for the decision-making of the NATO KFOR mission headquarters and contributed to minimizing the environmental risks associated with the operation of military infrastructure.
